Tray



April 5, 1960 H, lj)` MulsE 2,931,556

TRAY

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HERBERT D. MUISE H. D. MUISE April 5, 1960 TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 13, 1958 NimmHmmm-H nui.: CE

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HERBERT D. MulsE United States Patent O 2,931,556 TRAY Herbert D. Muise,Orange, Calif., as'signor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York,N.Y., a corporation jofzNew York The invention relates to a tray madefrom container stock such as corrugated paperboard, iibreboard and thelike. More especially, it is concerned with the construction of improvedstacking supports for trays such as are used, for example, as breadtrays. A

In the use of open top trays, it is often necessary that they be stackedone atop another. As the bottom tray must carry the load imposed by allthe full trays above it, the particular means for distributing andsustaining loads becomes a matter of considerable practicalsignificance. I have devised a particular effective stacking supportwhich can be formed as an integral part of the end structure of the trayas erected for use. My stacking support extends across and outside theend wall of the tray and is formed by a multiple fold extension foldedoutwardly from the upper edge of the end wall, thence folded downwardlyover end aps folded outside the end wall, then folded inwardly and thenupwardly between the end iaps and the outside of the end wall. Thisconstruction fulfills several requirements. It locks the tray erect. Itforms a box enclosing the end aps and furnishing an exceptionally strongend structure. It provides at upper and lower bearing surfaces forsustaining and transmitting loads. By positioning the lower bearingsurfaces above the bottom of the tray, the tray can be stacked withothers in partially nested relation. By making the end flaps so thatthey will extend in overlapping relationship for substantially the widthof the tray, a double thickness of the stock lls the boxes of thestacking supports and contributes to the structural strength of thetray.

Referring to the drawings I shall now describe the best modecontemplated by me for carrying out my invention. Y

Fig. l is a face view of the blank from which my improved tray isformed. The dot and dash lines represent fold lines as formed by scoringor otherwise.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing how the tray is set up for use. l

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the completed tray.A second tray, shown in elevation, is stacked on the first.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4` of Fig.3.

My tray as erected for use comprises a bottom panel 5, side and endpanels 6 and 7 extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel,end flaps 8 extending "2,931,556` Patented Apr. 5, 1960 from the ends ofthe side wall panels and folded outside the end wall panels, andstacking supports 9 extending across and outside the end wall panels.The stacking supports are formed by multiple fold extensions 10 (Fig. 1)folded outwardly from the upper edges of the end wall panels, thencefolded downwardly over the end flaps, inwardly and then upwardly betweenthe end aps and the outside of the end wall panels, as will beunderstood from Figs. 2 and 3. The extensions 10 lock the erected trayand form boxes 11 (Fig. 3) enclosing the end flaps and having at upperand .lower bearing surfaces 12 and 13 for sustaining loads when the trayis stacked up with other trays of like construction.

The lower bearing surfaces 13 of the stacking support boxes 11 arepositioned above the bottom of the tray as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.The end aps 8 extend in overlapping relationship for substantially thewidth of the tray. Score lines 14 of extensions 10 facilitate insertionof the ends of the extensions between the end flaps and end walls (Fig.2).

. The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in adescriptive and not in a limiting sense, and I have no intention ofexcluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portionsthereof, as fall within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A tray made from one piece of container stock comprising, in the formin which it is erected for use, a bottom panel, side and end wall panelsextending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel, rectangular endflaps extending from the ends of the side wall panels and Afoldedoutside the end wall panels, the bottom edges of said end aps disposedabove and parallel to the bottom of the tray throughout substantiallythe width of the ends of the tray, and stacking supports extendingacross and outside the end wall panels, said stacking supports formed bymultiple fold extensions folded outwardly from the upper edges of theend wall panels, thence folded downwardly over the end flaps, inwardlyand then upwardly between the end aps and the outside of the end wallpanels to lock the erected tray and form boxes enclosing the end flapsand having at upper and lower bearing surfaces for sustaining loads whensaid tray is stacked up with other trays of like construction.

2. A tray as dened by claim 1, in which the lower bearing surfaces ofthe stacking support boxes are positioned above the bottom of the tray.

3. A tray as defined by claim 1, in which the end aps extend inoverlapping relationship for substantially the width of the tray.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,639,793 Beyer Aug. 23, 1927 2,326,926 Bureau et al Aug. 17, 19432,373,730 Williamson et al. Apr. 17, 1945 2,735,607 Wasyluka Feb. 21,1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 53,661 Netherlands Dec. 15, 1942.

